Advent 2: Bubbles Done Right

On Day Two of our Mindful Drinking Audio Advent Calendar, we dive into the sparkle, shine, and pure festive joy of alcohol-free bubbles. 

Learn why AF sparkling wines replicate the “real thing” so well, and why the celebration has always been about the ritual — not the alcohol. 

This episode is all about how to enjoy the full festive experience, from the pop of the cork to the clink of the glass, without the next-day hangover.

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Chapters

• 0:00 Sparkling Wine Success in Alcohol Free
• 3:19 Why Alcohol-Free Sparkling Wines Matter

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:38

Well, hello, and welcome to day two of our mindful drinking audio advent here on the Mindful Drinking and Moderation in Midlife podcast. Today is a lovely day. It is all about sparkle and shine AF because we are talking about alcohol-free bubbles, and today is brought to you by the wonderful people over at Savile Beverage Co. And I'll tell you a bit more about them at the end of today's short advent uh episode. But I wanted to talk to you about sparkling wine today, alcohol-free sparkling wine, because it is one of my personal favorites in this area. Um, it is after alcohol-free beers, lagers, and ales, sparkling wines are the category who are arguably the most successful when it comes to replicating, and I say this with air quotes, the real thing. For those of us who are looking for an alcohol-free drink that matches as closely as possible to the alcohol-ful versions that we remember and that we enjoy, alcohol-free sparkling wines do a fantastic job. Now, I've spoken to several producers of alcohol-free wines and sparkling wines on the Lono Drinker podcast before it was rebranded to Mindful Drinking and Moderation in midlife, and you can still go and find those episodes. They will agree with me with what I'm about to say. One of the reasons why alcohol-free sparkling wines do so well is because they have a slight leg up over other categories like um uh still wines and maybe spirits. Now, this is not any shade on anyone who's making sparkling wine. Of course, alcohol-free drinks are all made with care and quality if we want to have the best versions of them. Uh, but alcohol-free sparkling wines have got a couple of legs up, as I say. Uh, number one is the bubbles. So the bubbles in the drink help to add texture, they help to add mouthfeel, they help to evoke uh that emotion and that feeling and that sense of occasion that you get from drinking a sparkling drink, like a champagne or carver or a prosecco. Um, and the other thing that they have that helps them out is the sugar. Uh, sparkling wines, whether they are champagnes or proseccos or carvers or alcohol freeze, they all naturally have a higher sugar content. Again, that adds to texture in the mouth. It adds that familiarity of sensation when you're drinking it. Now, I did just mention a couple of different types of sparkling wines, champagne and carver and prosecco. Now, in the alcohol-free space, we'll only ever call non-alcoholic sparkling wines non-alcoholic sparkling wines or alcohol-free sparkling wines. They can't be called champagnes. Um, only alcoholic wines made in the champagne region with the champagne technique can be called champagne, which is why we have Prosecco and Cava, which come from uh Spain and Italy, which are called by their names because they're made in their regions in their ways, and you can't mix the three of them up. So, when it comes to alcohol-free sparkling wine, just by the by, uh, the reason it's not called champagne is just because it's not allowed to be called that. So, why is this matter? Because I think that sparkling wines really are one of the biggest signifiers of celebration, and this is the time of year where it's all about celebration. They it's the pop of the cork, it's the overspill of the bubbles as they shoot out of the bottle. Um, you know, it's your glass being topped up twice because it's so fizzy the first time you can't get enough liquid in there. Now, all of that you can still achieve with an alcohol-free sparkling beverage. You really can, because ultimately it's not the alcohol that makes it a celebration. It's the ritual. Like I say, it's the popping of the cork, it's the pouring of the drinks, it's the sparkling in the room, it's the time with friends and family. And yes, I know it sounds a little bit cheesy and a little bit corny, but this is that time of year. I mean, you've seen the adverts on TV. We've listened to the songs, we know that this summer year we can get away with being a little bit cheesier than we would normally be. We don't have to be cool all the way throughout Christmas. So, what I want to do today is to leave you with the message that if you are looking for something celebratory, there are options out there in the low no and light space that can give you that theatrical experience and enjoyment that you get, just as when you're having a full strength alcoholic, sparkling wine. Uh, but you can have all of that just without the hangover in the morning. Now, wherever you're drinking, you can have this as well. Because in our pubs and bars and restaurants, wine is one of those areas that they're really working on improving. A lot of venues are trying to improve their offering. They've got lots of beers, some of them have got a couple of sides in, uh, and they know that sparkling wine is an easy win for the alcohol-free space. So you should be able to find at least an option every Christmas party that you're going to. If you're drinking this at home, then my biggest bit of advice for you is to treat it just the same as you would do if it was an alcohol full version. You know, use a beautiful flute or a coupette, and make sure that you've got the drink nice and chilled, particularly because you don't want to open a carbonated drink while it's warm, it will pop and fizz and go everywhere, and you'll spill it and waste it, and then that will be sad and you won't be able to celebrate. Um, make sure that if you're um turning it into a cocktail, perhaps, maybe you're making a little bellini, you're adding some peach puree in there. Make sure that you know all your ingredients are fresh, that you're adding a garnish where it's necessary. Don't serve it to yourself in your kids' plastic sippy cup just because it's the closest thing you can find, or a coffee mug because it's your favourite one. Make sure that you give yourself the same ritual so that you can have the same enjoyment wherever it is that you are enjoying your sparkles and bubbles and shine today. Now, there are so many alcohol-free sparkling drinks out there, but I'd like to tell you about today's sponsor, which is a wonderful brand called Savile, who have made it exceedingly easy for you to enjoy an alcohol-free beverage without any extra work. Savile are a range of RTD that stands for ready to drink cocktails in a can. Uh, if you've listened for a while, you know that I love an RTD, all of the joy, all of the taste, none of the effort. Um, and one of my favourite drinks from the Savile range is their beautiful Bellini, which I highly recommend you go and give a try to. Uh, they've also got a Moscow Mule, uh, a Mejito, and a Zesty Paloma, all delicious. Now, once you've opened today's door on your mindful drinking advent, you'll find out a little bit more about Savile and their exclusive discount code so that you can go and sip, savour, and celebrate Christmas on your terms with a 20% off. So make sure you go and open today's day. If you haven't signed up for the advent yet, there is still time if you go to mindfuldrinkingadvent.com. And I will see you tomorrow where we will be saying cheers to a Christmas less intoxicated.